The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-16
TOWNSHIPS.

your columns, a battle of the giants tor
the control of the higher seminaries of
learning. Permit pigmy to call the
attention of your readers to the small
matter of Section No. 10.
| shall not discuss the Peabody dona-
tion of Mississippi bonds given to estab-
lish the Planters Bank; although some
persons may think, that the State is
more indebted to the common schools
through that donation, than to Oxford
University, through the Seminary Fund
This Mississippi bond fund, if available,
would yield more for common schools
than is claimed for the University from
the Seminary fund.
In all the Choctaw country, Section
No. Is was reserved from sale. 1t was
not donated to the State or to the
county, but it was reserved for the use
and benefit of the school children of
each township.
| In Kinds county there are about
twenty townships. Our section Melted
two Thousand dollars, which, loaned at
ten per cent, yielded two hundred dol
lars annually. Twenty times that would
| give $4,000 each year for the county.
Allowing Kinds to represent one-sixtieth
| of the State, we would have an annual
distribution of $4,000 for common
school purposes.
To apply some of Prof. Mayes's doc
trlnes about trust funds-for the State
| has assumed a trust not given by any
| act OF Congress by diverting the town
ship funds TO county purposes-let US
suppose bill in chancery to be filed in
the following style, red tape and other
trimmings to be added:
To The Hon. E. G. Peyton, Chancellor Of
the Ninth District:
Your orators, C. S. North, Superin-
tendent, and j. j. Halbert, Com mis-
sioner of public schools, in and for the
county of Kinds and State of Missis-
sippi, would respectfully represent:
That the school children of township
3, range l west, are entitled to the
usufruct of section No. 16, in said town.
ship;
That said section was leased under the
laws of the State and the lease forfeited
for non-payment and what was collected
was lost by neglect;
That at subsequent sale of the lease
there arose clear fund for the township
of $4,000, which was loaned at ten per
cent, giving every year 5000 to be
divided among the teachers of the chill
dren in the township;
That during the Ames administration
this fund was entirely ignored by the
school authorities;
That in the Lowering Code the fund
is partially recognized and merged into
a county fund, whereas by the laws of
Congress it should remain perpetual
township fund, the fee simple title
remaining in the United States for the
use and benefit of the children of the
township.
Wherefore, the premises considered,
your orators pray that the sheriff of
Kinds county be enjoined and directed
that of the real estate taxes of the resi-
dents on section 16 in said township, he
retain the sum of two hundred dollars,
subject to the orders of the school au
thorities; also in like manner that the
Treasurer of said county be enioined
and directed to hold all funds belonging
to said township, subject to orders of
said school authorities.
Your orators pray for such other and
further remedies as to your honor may
seem legal and equitable.
g. S. NORTH, Sup't p.h,;o S.bo,.
Having thus resorted to the proper
court to ascertain our rights, let us have
an ideal specimen of pure democracy
in
TOWNSHIP MEETING.
By virtue of the statutes in such case
made and provided, the undersigned Sc
lectmen of township 8, range l west, in
the county of Kinds, State of Missis- |
sippi, hereby call meeting of the legal |
voters in said township, TO consider of |
the following propositions:
l. To build a bridge across Vaughn's |
Creek. near where said creek empties in |
to Pearl river.
2. To build schoolhouse in the Dos |
set neighbortood.
8. To elect superintendent of schools |
for the ensuing year.
I. To determine the amount of taxes |
to be levied to meet the liabilities for the
next fiscal year.
ARTEMUs WARD,
BILL NYE, Selectmen.
JACK DOWNING,
Attest: PETER SNYDER, Clerk.
Such were the ideas of jefferson and
others, in calling six miles square a
township. They intended that the in
habitants of each township should be a |
body polite and corporate with officers
of their own selection. In this way we
could have that local selfgovernment
which the irish are claiming, and which
the French. as vet. have not obtained.
Hence q mob in Paris frequently con.
trolls the nation. II Francs there are
no local authorities independent of the
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